Applications are now open for the 2019 Billy Thorpe Scholarship, funded by the Queensland Government and administered by QMusic. Now in its 11th year, the award provides $10,000 for an emerging artist to record with an established producer, and receive career-planning advice from Chugg Entertainment.

The scholarship, named in honour of the late Billy Thorpe, a great Australian rock musician who passed away in February 2007, was designed to help develop the future of rock and roll.

Thorpe spent his formative years in Brisbane and made an enormous contribution to the Australian and global music industry over five decades of performing, writing and producing.

Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said the Queensland Music Awards were a wonderful celebration of Queensland’s thriving music industry.

“The Palaszczuk Government, through Arts Queensland, proudly supports our state’s contemporary music scene,” Ms Enoch said.

“We’ve invested in QMusic to present the QMAs and BIGSOUND, in addition to a raft of awards that enable artists to take advantage of professional development opportunities and access new audiences. This includes the $10,000 Billy Thorpe Scholarship, which for ten years has supported local emerging musicians with their career development and helped them hone their art."

“Bearing the name of one of Australia’s rock’n’roll trailblazers, the scholarship is unlocking some exceptional musical talent here in Queensland, and putting truly promising artists on a path to success.”

Earlier this year the 2018 scholarship was awarded to 23-year-old Far North Queensland songstress Greta Stanley.